Fountain-pen



(No Model.)

FOUNTAIN PEN.

PL 2 o0 f d I I Y NV m.. 3. `F ,3. ,J N u U Y A w M E A fea m 1 NW u mwa 9 Q DL .1 l F w J. uuml Mvd M au 1. y F F, y a

F J n au UNTTnn STATES ATENT FFTCE.

SYLVESTER \V. HIGGINS,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FOUNTAIN-PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,475, dated October 24, 1882.

Application tiled January 4, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SYLVEs'rEn W. Hie- GlNs, of the city ot' St. Louis, in the State ot' Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fountain-Pens, ot' which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot1 the same.

My improvement consists of a fountain-pen in which an ordinary gold nib may be used, and which acts to close the ink-discharge valve when the penis not in use, and to regulate the discharge as required.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a back view ot' the pen with parts in section. Fig. 2is an enlarged detail axial section, showing the plug at the upper end of the reservoir in side View; and Fig. 3 is a similar View, except that the plug is also in section and the cap is turned back to open the air-inlet. Fig. 4 is a transverse section at 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a back view ot' the nib andplug or valve-piece, with the lower part of the reservoir in section. Fig. 6 is a side view of the nib and plug, with the lower part of the reservoir in section. Fig. 7 is a section at 7 7, Fig. 5. Fig. S is a similar view with the nib sprung up and the valve raised as in the act of writing. Fig. 9 is a section at 9 9, Fig. 10. Fig.1() is a side view of the valve-seat piece or plug, with the surrounding part in section at 11 11, Fig. 9. Fig. 1l is a section at 11 11, Fig. 9. Figs. 12, 13, and 14 show modifications ofthe valve proper. (Figs. 2 to 14 are upon a larger scale than Fig. 1.)

A is the reservoir or case forming the handle or holder. It consists ot' a tube open at both ends, formed ot' rubber or any suitable substance. The Lipper end ot' the reservoir is almost closed by an axially-perforated or tubular tapering plug, B. rlhe smaller end ofthe plug B extends a distance into the reservoir. its purpose is to prevent the escape of ink into the cap .O. The upper end, a, ot' the reservoir is made of smaller diameter, and is screwthreaded for the engagement of the closetopped cap O, which may be screwed down to hermetically close the top of the reservoir. When the pen is in use the cap is unscrewed a small distance, as illustrated in Fig; to admit the entrance of air between the edge c ofthe cap and shoulder a. The entering air passes up into the cap through a passage, a,

I formed by attening the side of the reduced l part a, and tinds its way into the reservoir through the axial passage b of the plug B.

D is the valvepiece or lower plug, made to tit and close the lower end ot' the reservoir. The plug` D is shown as slipping into the lower end of the reservoir, (as-a stopper into a bottle5) but it may be made to screw fast into or onto the reservoir. The piece or plug D is shown with a recess or depression at D to receive the inner end ot' the pen E, which is held between the piece D and the case A; but the pen may be held in a curved slot made in the piece D. The piece or plug D has an axial bore, d, extending from the inner end to a transverse cylindrical cavity, d2, made in one side ot' the extension d', at the end of the same. Into the cavity d2 is iitted a small cylindrical piece, F, forming the seat ot' the valve. The valve-seat F may be made with its inner end closed, except for a side slot or other oritice,f, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and l0, or it may be made open at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 11. In either ease the slot or other oriiice communieates with the bore d, so as to allow the ink to enter the valve-chamber beneath the valve.

G is the valve, made with a head, g, to tit the seat upon its under side and to hear against the nib or pen E at its upper side. The head may be round, as seen in Figs. 7,8,11, and 14, Hat-topped, as shown in Fig. 12, or tiangetopped, as shown in Fig. 13. In the latter case the under side ot' the tiange may fit the flat top ot' the valve-seat F. The stein g of the valve is made elastic, and its end rests against the bottom ot' the valveseat piece F or the inner end ot' the cavity d3, as the ease may be. (See respectively Figs. 8 and 11.) The purpose 0f the elastic stem is to raise the valve from its seat when the pen E is sprung upward in the act of writing, (see Fig. 8,) thus allowing the ink to tlow. On the other hand. when the pen is not in use it presses the valve down upon its seat and stops the tlow of ink. The quantity of ink passing through the valveport accords with the demand, because the pressure upon the pen. In Figs. 11, 12, and 13 the elastic stem of the valve is shown as consisting ot' sott rubber, while in Fig. 14 it consists ot' a spiral spring. The mean amount of ink-supply may be regulated by the adjustlit'ting ot' the valve is proportionate to thel (See Fig. 7.)

IOO

ment ofthe valve-seatF in the soeketdz. Thus it' the flow of inl; is too great the Valve-seat is drawn outward in the socket asmall distance, decreasing the size ofthe valve-port when the pen is sprung upward, as the valve would not be raised from its seat to the saine extent. The flow of ink may also be modified by changingr the position of the cap C to admit more or less air.

H is a cap to protect the pen (or nib) when not in use.

I prefer to make the head g of the valve of soft rubber or other elastic material, but (lo not eonne myself to sueh material.

In filling,` the reservoir A with ink, the cap C and plug B are removed and' the` ink filled into the uppervend by a syringe or otherwise7 the valve G preventing the escape of ink.

SYLVESTER W. HIGGINS.

In presence of- 'lnEoDoRE PAPIN, -SAML KNIGHT. 

